Six more accused Kalamazoo priests are ‘outed’
Six more accused Kalamazoo priests are ‘outed’
Most have attracted no attention in Michigan
They allegedly hurt children in other states
But each is or was in the Kalamazoo diocese
SNAP: “Bishop should post names of all the accused"
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will disclose that six publicly ‘outed’ and accused priests spent time in Kalamazoo. Most have escaped scrutiny here but were ousted or charged in other states.
They will also push Kalamazoo’s bishop to
--post his own list of those accused,
--include nuns, priests, brothers, bishops, seminarians & lay staff on that list, &
--provide photos, whereabouts and full work histories of all the accused.
WHEN
Thursday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Kalamazoo Catholic diocesan headquarters 215 N. Westnedge Ave, (corner of Eleanor St.) in Kalamazoo
WHO
Two-three members of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a Missouri man who was the organization’s former long-time director
WHY
More than half of the nearly 200 Catholic bishops in the US have released the names of child molesting clerics, most of them under pressure over the last few months.
https://wgntv.com/2019/01/03/a-reckoning-is-underway-in-us-catholic-church/
http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/diocesan_and_order_lists.htm
Kalamazoo Bishop Paul Bradley (269 903 0153) has not done so, and SNAP believes he’s being “reckless with the safety of kids.”
The group has discovered and is disclosing a list of six publicly accused clergy sex offenders who spent time in the Kalamazoo diocese.
SNAP wants Bp. Bradley to permanently and prominently post the names of ALL accused child molesting church staff on Kalamazoo church websites. That list should also include photos, whereabouts and full work assignments, SNAP says.
The priests on SNAP’s list are: Fr. Gregory H. Poser, Fr. Thomas F. DeVita, Fr. Michael Howard Weston, Fr. Richard Ohlemacher, Fr. Leonard Bogdan and Fr. Carl Anthony Peltz.
For the most part, they’re accused of abusing kids in Minnesota, Illinois, New York and Iceland, and were suspended or defrocked by Catholic officials.
Details about them are available at BishopAccountability.org and AndersonAdvocates.com. More information about them will be posted on the SNAP website and handed out at the news conference.
There are two publicly accused child molesting clerics on BishopAccountability.org's list for the Kalamazoo Diocese: Fr. Jacob Vellian and Fr. Leroy E. White.
Fr. Vellian is accused of sexually abusing at least one girl. In 2010, that allegation was deemed ‘credible’ by church officials. He had “been in active ministry in various dioceses in the US” and was said to be living back in India.
http://www.bishopaccountability.org/news555/2011_09_11_Times_of_India_Priest_accused.htm
Fr. White is also accused of molesting at least one girl. In 2002, he was removed from ministry and in 2004 the Vatican forbade him from working in the Kalamazoo area.
http://bishop-accountability.org/news5/2004_04_26_Rosenfeld_CouldLocal.htm
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314-566-9790, [email protected], Zach Hiner 517-974-9009, [email protected]
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director